SHELL LOGISTICS BASE IN BAYELSA STATE ATTACKED BY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001272

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DOE FOR GPERSON, CGAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR SLISER
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART
STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2016
TAGS: EPET ENERG ASEC PTER CASC NI
SUBJECT: SHELL LOGISTICS BASE IN BAYELSA STATE ATTACKED BY
YOUTHS


Classified By: Consul General Brian Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D,E)


1. (C) Summary: The seven expatriate employees of
ExxonMobil contractors kidnapped October 3 remain hostages.
On October 10, youths attacked a small naval facility and
neighboring Shell logistics base in Bayelsa State; 10-20
Shell and Shell contractor employees, none of them Americans,
are being held by the youths. End Summary.

Seven Employees of ExxonMobil Contractors Remain Hostage
-------------- --------------


2. (U) Seven expatriate employees of contractors for
ExxonMobil kidnapped October 3 remain in captivity.
Negotiations are ongoing. No American citizens are involved
in the incident.

Shell Logistics Base Attacked
--------------


3. (C) Early October 10, approximately forty-five youths in
three speedboats attacked a Nigerian small naval outpost near
the Nun River in Bayelsa State, disarming ten on-duty naval
personnel and pilfering their uniforms. We have been unable
to confirm whether the naval personnel are being held. The
attack against the naval facility was apparently done to
allow the assailants to perform their next act unhindered by
possibility of any quick GON military response. Departing
the naval station, the youths then traveled to the adjacent
Shell field logistics base near Brass. Olav Lijosne,
Regional External Affairs Manager for Shell Exploration and
Production, (protect) said from 10-20 Shell employees and
contractors' employees are being held captive in the
facility; none of the hostages are Americans.


4. (C) Lijosne said, although there was shooting during the
incident, he knew of no casualties or injuries. According to
Lijosne, the Government of Bayelsa State is conducting the
negotiations with the youths. The youths are demanding local
community development that will generate employment, and an
environmental project.

Deaths from Vandalized Pipeline Reported
--------------


5. ThisDay newspaper reported on October 10 that six persons
died trying to scoop petrol from a vandalized pipeline in
Ogale-Eleme, Rivers State on October 7.

Bodies of Slain Soldiers Recovered?
--------------


6. (C) The Tribune in an October 10 article reported that
six corpses had been found floating in Bille Creek near the
Cawthorne Channel, the location of a deadly gun battle on
October 2 in which 14 Joint Task Force (JTF) personnel died.
Military sources told MilAtt that 23 soldiers had been killed
in the early October series of incidents.

Military Fires on Journalist in Creeks
--------------


7. (C) On October 9, Patrick Naagabanton, a Nigerian
journalist, told Pol/EconOff that military forces near
Abonema creek in Rivers State shot at hiim. Neither
Naagabanton nor any of his companions were injured.


8. (C) Comment: The October 10 takeover of the Shell
facility near Brass appears to be the work of local youths
seeking jobs and development for their home communities.
Although not identified with any militant group, they are
well armed and sufficiently knowledgeable about tactics and
the local area to have carried out this two-pronged attack.

LAGOS 00001272 002 OF 002


In doing so they exhibited the capability not only to plan,
but execute a coordinated attack against a military unit and
civilian compound. End Comment.
BROWNE